Simply tragic. Tragic.
But not necessarily surprising — not in an era where it seems like weather is more extreme than ever.
Please keep everyone impacted by these storms in your prayers. And hold your kids a bit tighter tonight.
Author Archives: Erik Brooks
New Apartment Plan For 9th Avenue Site
The Business Journal has the story … and the South Milwaukee Plan Commission and City Council will take up the issue at meetings this week.
From the article …
Developer Heitzer Inc., Oconomowoc, has proposed 16 townhouse-style apartment units in South Milwaukee on a 1.5 acre former manufacturing site.
Mike Heitzer, who also has built townhouses in Oak Creek, said he expects to rent the three-bedroom townhouses for $1,100 a month. They are proposed at 909 Menomonee Ave., a vacant site the city owns.
“I don’t think there is a lot that has been built down there, and I think there’s a need for it,” Heitzer said.
Heitzer is seeking city approval for the development plan, and said he wants to start construction as soon as possible if approved.
You will recall another project had been proposed here last year, but the one under consideration now is from a different developer.
I’ll keep you posted.
Here is the Plan Commission agenda, and here is the council agenda.
Filed under Development
Another Hero Honored: A Citizen Steps Up And Saves A Life
Continuing a regular series of blog posts on the South Milwaukee Police Department’s annual award winners …
This one was particularly inspiring (and emotional) to hear at the South Milwaukee City Council meeting earlier this month, as Mrs. Schulz — and the man she saved, and his family — were in attendance.
Police Chief Ann Wellens also read from a heart-felt story posted on NOW about the case. It’s absolutely worth the read.
CITIZEN RECOGNITION AWARD
Whenever any officer believes that behavior coming to the attention personally or through a third party is deserving of recognition by the Department, an officer should indicate the circumstances of the incident in writing and should forward same to the Awards Committee. Upon Committee approval, the Chief will affix their stamp of approval.
Mrs. Cynthia Schulz
Officer Dave Stratton recommended Mrs. Schulz for a Citizen Recognition Award for her actions on May 15, 2012.
On May 15, 2012 Ms. Schulz was driving on College Avenue in South Milwaukee when she observed a serious traffic accident. She immediately stopped at the scene and began rendering assistance. Ms. Schulz removed the non-responsive driver from the vehicle and immediately began CPR. Ms. Schulz continued CPR until relieved by SMFD personnel. Because of her actions the driver of the vehicle was transported to Froedert Hospital and began a successful recovery. Ms. Schulz’s concern for this subject and his welfare should be commended.
Filed under Uncategorized
Caterpillar CEO Profiled: “We Can Never Make Enough Profit”
Business Week has an interesting profile of Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman, as the labor dispute in South Milwaukee continues.
Among the comments: “We can never make enough profit.” From it:
After walking through the Peoria factory, Oberhelman takes off his safety glasses and sits down to eat his low-carb lunch: turkey wrapped in lettuce. He talks about his upbringing in Illinois and his career at Caterpillar. He lists his hobbies (hunting, “outdoors things”). Then comes the difficult question: Why is Caterpillar fighting its workers over wages? Oberhelman nods briskly, eager to put the issue to rest.
“We have to be competitive if we’re gonna win. And frankly, if we’re not competitive … we’re not gonna be here in the next 30 years. That’s a simple message, but”—he starts to hammer his hand against the table, punctuating his words with raps—“it’s very … very … tough.” After a pause, he lets his hand lay flat.
“I always try to communicate to our people that we can never make enough money,” Oberhelman continues. “We can never make enough profit.”
Filed under Caterpillar, Local Business
Milestone Year: South Milwaukee Downtown Market Opens May 23
It seems like just yesterday, doesn’t it?
Well, the South Milwaukee Downtown Market open its fifth season on Thursday, May 23, bigger and better than ever.
As always, the market is open from 3 to 7 p.m., and we’re located at 11th and Milwaukee Avenues. Our season runs for 20 weeks through Oct. 10, taking July 4 off.
Here is the press release, and check out the market website for more information.
Tell your family and friends, and bring them with you on Thursday. It’s going to be a great summer!
Filed under Community
Congratulations, Bernice!
South Milwaukee’s Bernice Czarnezki was the honored citizen at Thursday’s 128th Air Refueling Wing Civic Dinner Dance. I was happy to be there for the event — and thank this wonderful woman for all she has done for our community.
Please join me in wishing her congratulations. At 87 years young, she has earned them.
Milwaukee Avenue Closures Continue Friday
Update: Milwaukee Avenue was expected to reopen by late Friday afternoon.
Sorry I didn’t blog about this before now, but those of you who drove through downtown South Milwaukee today already know this: Milwaukee Avenue is closed at the railroad tracks in both directions to vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
Here is the good news: The crossing is expected to reopen Saturday.
Union Pacific is performing crossing maintenance, forcing the closure. Detour routes are posted and include using Rawson Avenue, Marquette Avenue and Highway 32.
Filed under Construction
Headlines, Headlines, Headlines … And A Chance To Watch The Warbler
Check out these South Shore headlines …
- City Eyes Approval Of Drexel Town Square Plans (Oak Creek Patch)
- Lt. Brian Murphy To Retire (Patch)
- Oak Creek Out $300k For Lakefront Land Purchase (Patch)
- Chemical Plant Explosion Causes Scare In St. Francis (WDJT)
- Free Speech: Should News Outlets Let Bloggers Running For Office Tout Their Campaigns? (Milwaukee Magazine)
Also, bird watchers are gathering this Sunday, May 19, at Wil-o-Way Grant for a Warbler Walk. Apparently, warblers love Grant Park. Who knew? Learn more here.
Filed under Headlines
Rawson Avenue Construction Update
If you haven’t already found alternate travel plans to avoid the mess around Interstate 94 and Rawson Avenue in recent months, you should probably do so ASAP.
The big news — Rawson will be completely closed from 13th to 20th Streets from May 28 to late June. Freeway and ramp closures are also planned at various times.
See the full recap from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation here. I’ll keep you posted.
Filed under Construction
More Details Emerge On Sikh Temple Shooter … And His South Milwaukee Connection
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has the story, which quotes FBI documents as saying Wade Michael Page lived for a time in South Milwaukee. From it:
According to the FBI search warrant, Page was in a relationship with Misty Cook from April 2011 to June 2012. The document does not say how they met, but at first it was a long-distance relationship. Page, 40, and Cook, 32, traveled back and forth between Wisconsin and North Carolina from April to October 2011 to visit each other, it says.
During Cook’s trip to visit Page in May 2011, the couple visited a shooting range and Cook fired Page’s 9mm handgun, according to the warrant.
Cook cannot legally handle a firearm because of a previous conviction. After the Oak Creek shooting, police searched her South Milwaukee apartment and found a gun. No charges have been filed in state or federal court. State and federal prosecutors did not return calls for comment Monday on Cook.
Cook and Page were active participants in an online message forum for a white supremacist group and joined in dozens of the same conversations – including some well before the time that Page is thought to have moved to this area, according to research by the Anti-Defamation League and the Journal Sentinel.
The Journal Sentinel reviewed posts under the names “End Apathy” and “Luluroman” on a message board for a white supremacy group known as the “Hammerskins.” According to the league, Page frequently posted under the name End Apathy – the name of his skinhead band – and Cook used the Luluroman handle.
In October 2011, Page used the forum to promote his band. That same month, Page moved from North Carolina to live with Cook in South Milwaukee. Page was an alcoholic skinhead, Cook later told the FBI.
In January 2012, Page encouraged Cook to join “Crew 38,” a Chicago-based white power group. Toward the end of their relationship, Page became increasingly interested in conspiracy theories and videos online, according to the newly unsealed documents. The warrant does not detail what Page was looking at on the web, but it said Cook was disturbed by it.
The warrant also says Page was active on social media, having at least two Facebook pages, under the names “Wade Hammer” and “Jackboot.” …
Page and Cook split in June 2012, and he moved into an apartment in Cudahy.
More Headlines
Check out these South Shore headlines …
- Strip Mall At Rawson/Howell Finding Its Niche (Oak Creek Patch)
- Oak Creek Officers In Sikh Temple Shooting Honored By President Barack Obama (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
- “Real Signs Of Progress” At Oak Creek Lakefront (Patch)
- Cudahy Crossroads A Speeding Hotspot (TMJ 4)
- Cudahy Police Seeking Individuals Involved In Crash Monday (Fox 6)
Also, state Sen. Chris Larson has published two new Larson Reports. The troubled Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is the lead item in both.
Filed under Headlines
Heroes Of The Day: Celebrating The 2013 Police Award Winners
One of my favorite city council meetings each year is when we honor the South Milwaukee Police Department’s annual award winners. That meeting was Tuesday, during National Peace Officers Week.
Below are a couple of the winners’ stories. I’ll share others in the weeks ahead. They are all inspiring — reminders of the dangers our police officers face, and of the courage and selflessness ordinary citizens display in difficult situations, every day.
LIFE-SAVING COMMENDATION
Awarded to an officer whose action directly contributed to the saving or significant prolonging of human life.
Officer Hoeppner, Officer Hallett & Officer Rotter
Nominated by Officer Rotter/Lt. Walker
On October 21, 2012 Officers Hoeppner, Hallett and Rotter responded to a house fire in the 700 block of Madison Avenue. When officers arrived, flames were observed coming through the roof and the third story windows at the back of the residence. The building had separate apartments on each floor. Officers entered the burning building and went to the apartments and evacuated 7 people including a baby and two senior citizens prior to SMFD arriving on scene. As a result of the officer’s actions no one was killed or injured and all residents were safely evacuated.
MERIT AWARD
Awarded for excellent arrest by any officer directly involved in the capture and arrest of a felon who was endangering the lives and/or property of the community.
Officer Hoeppner, Officer Rotter, Officer Wentz & Officer Doering
Nominated by Lt. Chad Milow
On January 5, 2013 officers responded to a report of an armed robbery at a residence in the 800 block of Lakeview Avenue. These officers investigated the complaint and located the suspect vehicle. After a traffic stop, in which two of the occupants fled on foot, three suspects were taken into custody and a weapon was located at the scene. The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office charged the suspect with Robbery While Armed. Without the officer’s quick actions this crime may have not been cleared by arrest.
Thanks to South Milwaukee Chief Ann Wellens for the providing the information.
Filed under Police
Rocket Sports Update: Golf And Track Success And More
Got this from Ante Udovicic and the South Milwaukee School District …
GOLF
The Rocket golf team took first place again at the Whitnall golf course on Tuesday. Matthew Boyle led the way with a 42. Ben Rosploch shot a 43, Kaylyn Markiewicz came in with a 45, Brian Hofer a 46, and Andrew Manikham a 49. The Rockets took 1st place in the Woodland East Division for the season! Kaylyn (2nd overall) and Ben (3rd overall) earned all East Division 1st team honrs. On the second team all East Division was Matthew (9th overall) and Andrew (10th overall). Great to see 4 SM golfers earn all conference honors! Congratulations Rockets and Coach Jeff Kubel!
GIRLS TRACK
South Milwaukee Girls Track won their 4th Woodland Conference Relays Championship in a row (all 4 since we moved back to the Woodland Conference in 2009). In honor of that, the Journal Sentinel picked Coach Stan Druckrey’s team as their team of the week!
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/preps/focus-on-girls-track-and-field-l19rb4u-206369311.html
TEAM OF THE WEEK: South Milwaukee. The Rockets didn’t play second fiddle this time. After a second-place finish at the Woodland Conference indoor last month, South Milwaukee won the conference relays with 108 points. The team got a state-best performance from senior Micaela Creighton in the long jump (18-6). It also won the long jump, triple jump and 400 relays with the 400 relay of sophomore Chenoa Stuhr and seniors Amber Roepke, Micaela Creighton and Alyx Birmingham winning in 51.21, which ranked 13th on the state honor roll Monday. The Rockets also got a big day from its young distance crew, which took third in the 3,200, 6,400 and distance medley despite having no upperclassmen on the teams (Bristine Fowler, Capri Fowler, Rebecca Heller, Sam Meszaros, and Karina Popek)
COMING UP
Woodland Conference Outdoor at Brown Deer, 3 p.m. Monday: South Milwaukee and New Berlin West are the teams to beat.
HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America)
The following HOSA members participated in competitive events at the WI HOSA State Leadership Conference April 7-9 at the Chula Vista Resort in WI Dells and qualified to national competition in Nashville, TN at the HOSA National Convention June 24-30.
- Kaitlin Armstrong - Medical Law and Ethics – Gold Medal
- Ashley Heitzmann - Nursing Assisting – Silver Medal
- Ashley Heitzmann & Miranda Olszewski - Community Awareness – Gold Medal
- Sondra Windus - Extemporaneous Writing – 5th place
- Shelby Wester - Extemporaneous Health Poster – 5th Place
- and Heather Westerfield was elected to a state office – WI HOSA Reporter.
Now What? Negotiations Between Caterpillar, South Milwaukee Union Reportedly Break Off
Update: The Business Journal, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wall Street Journal and TMJ 4 also have stories.
From the Chicago Tribune …
Contract negotiations between Caterpillar Inc. and United Steelworkers Local 1343 broke down on Wednesday, according to union officials. Ross Winklbauer, a Steelworkers subdistrict director for southeastern Wisconsin, said Caterpillar turned down the union’s proposal addressing its members concerns. No other further meetings are scheduled.
I’ll keep you posted.
Filed under Caterpillar
South Milwaukee Council Votes On Terms, Elected Vs. Appointed Issue
The South Milwaukee City Council has weighed in on the length of elected officials’ terms — and whether or not some of our elected leaders should remain that way.
Tuesday, the council voted to introduce a number of ordinances on these topics.
- We voted to make the term of mayor, alderman and municipal judge three years. Currently, the mayor and aldermen serve two-year terms, and the judge serves four. The votes were 8-0 except for the aldermanic term issue. It passed 7-1, and I was the “one.” I voted no on that one because I feel strongly our terms should also be staggered. I explain my position here and here.
- We also voted to make the positions of city attorney, clerk and treasurer appointed vs. elected — effective in 2017. So that means these three officials will be seeking three-year terms next April, like other elected officials. Then, once that term is over, the positions will become appointed … with the details as to how that will work to be worked out down the road. These measures all passed 8-0.
So, for now, the debate continues. Since these measures were only introduced Tuesday, they must have their first, second and third readings (and more votes) before they are passed. I expect that will take at least two council meetings. Then, because they represent changes to city “charter ordinances,” there is an extra period of time that must elapse before they go into effect.
Of course, I’d like to know what you think of this. Post your comments below!
Filed under 2014 Elections, City Council
